A small cluster of two illnesses from the Cincinnati, Ohio area have prompted JB Meats, also from Cincinnati, to recall 72,800 pounds of ground beef that may be contaminated by E. coli O157:H7.  According to press accounts, the products subject to recall are 5 and 10 pound clear packages of ground beef and ground beef patties in various size packages that were processed on and can be identified by the dates Aug. 18, 2010 through Aug. 18, 2011. The product was sold to restaurants in the Cincinnati area, but the company has not stated which restaurants those are.

The illnesses that prompted the recall occurred in two people who had consumed ground beef on July 16 and 17, and became ill on July 20 and 21.  There is no word yet whether either of the cases linked to this outbreak had to be hospitalized, or developed hemolytic uremic syndrome.  Neither is there any word on whether the outbreak is bigger than just two people.  More to come on this newly announced ground beef E. coli outbreak.